US State Dept confirms Modi will not be given visa

Washington, Aug 30 (PTI) United States has confirmed
in a letter to Congresswoman Betty McCollum that Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi will not be granted a visa to attend
the World Gujarati Conference that is being held in New Jersey
this weekend, the Coalition Against Genocide (C.A.G.) has
said.

On July eight, the Democratic law maker petitioned the
State department against issuing a visa for Modi and a reply
to this was sent by Mathew Reynolds, the Assistant secretary
of State for Legislative Affairs.

"The Department of State is extremely sensitive to
your concerns and we are cognizant of the human rights abuses
Modi has committed," Reynolds has said in his reply that has
been circulated by the C.A.G., a diverse spectrum of groups
and individuals in the US and Canada that have come together
in response to the Gujarat 2002 riots to demand justice.

"We have thoroughly searched Department records and
located no current non-immigrant visa applications for Modi.
However, should we receive an application, we assure you it
will be adjudicated in strict accordance with the Immigration
and Naturalisation Act," the official said.

Commenting on the letter, Hyder Khan of the C.A.G.
said "the current response from the State Department has
virtually made Narendra Modi a persona non grata to the US."

It has been pointed out that about 32 lawmakers have
so far written letters to the State Department expressing
concern over human rights abuses in Gujarat and urging the
denial of US visa to Modi, the C.A.G. said in a media release.

"By persistently inviting the most notorious human
rights abuser in India and propping Narendra Modi as their
icon and hero, the organisers of the World Gujarati conference
have brought shame to the Indian American community and have
tarnished the name of India," said Hari Sharma.